On May 5 (local time), AFP news agency reported that the Swedish government will promote a plan to establish a new intelligence agency to monitor external threats. This move is part of Stockholm's process of adjusting its broader security policy after the conflict in Ukraine broke out.
The new agency is expected to be named the Swedish Foreign Intelligence Agency, abbreviated as UND. According to Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, this agency will start operating from January 2027.
Speaking at a press conference, Ms. Stenergard said that the ongoing war in Ukraine shows the information advantage and the ability to quickly adjust technical systems that play an equally important role to modern weapon systems. According to her, the new Swedish intelligence agency can be compared to MI6, which is the UK's foreign intelligence agency.
Currently, Sweden has the Military Intelligence and Security Service, abbreviated as MUST, responsible for threats from abroad in the military field. In addition, the country also has the Swedish Security Service, or Sapo, focused on domestic threats and non-military threats.
According to Foreign Minister Stenergard, UND will take over part of the task currently undertaken by MUST. The new agency will closely coordinate with the Swedish Armed Forces, Sapo and the National Radio Defense Agency, the unit in charge of signal intelligence.
The establishment of the new foreign intelligence agency reflects a major change in Sweden's security thinking. Previously, this Nordic country maintained a policy of non-military alliance for about two centuries. However, when the conflict in Ukraine broke out, Sweden abandoned this policy and joined NATO.
Ms. Stenergard believes that, as an ally in NATO, Sweden is facing new expectations. This makes Stockholm need to strengthen its intelligence gathering and processing capabilities, especially in the context of a rapidly changing European security environment.
The new intelligence agency will focus on threats outside the Swedish territory. Although the government has not announced details about the scale of personnel or budget, this plan shows that Stockholm wants to strengthen its ability to respond to security risks in the region and internationally.
